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Fired Rapides teacher wins $1M+ judgment against board

Fired Rapides Parish teacher Patricia Powell, shown here in a 2003 Town Talk photo, said at the time that, "In my heart, I know the only reason I was fired was for my political views." A judge on Thursday agreed with her, awarding her more than $1 million.(Photo: Town Talk file photo)

A teacher who sued the Rapides Parish School District after she was fired in 2001 was awarded more than $1 million in a decision issued on Thursday by a 9th Judicial District Court judge.

Patricia Powell had sued after she was fired from her tenured position in September 2001. She was a teacher at Tioga Elementary School in January 1998 when her photo and comments were included in a Town Talk article about the settlement that former Superintendent Betty Cox had reached with the district.

Cox had a short and volatile tenure as superintendent. She was hired in 1994, but suspended a year later. The battle between Cox and board members in the ensuing years was public, divisive and nasty, and Cox left with a $1.17 million settlement in January 1998.

Powell alleged that the district took its revenge on her for her published comments, closing her gifted class at Tioga, moving her to several other schools and repeatedly harassing her and mishandling her disciplinary hearing in which the decision was made to fire her.

Judge Thomas Yeager agreed with Powell, saying in his opinion that she was "not afford a hearing at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner."

"If this concerned a criminal conviction, it would be worthy of a reversal," Yeager also wrote. He also wrote that Powell was the "victim of political retaliation."

Yeager awarded Powell $1,147,732, plus interest and court costs.

Powell's attorneys, Allison A. Jones of Shreveport and Mildred E. Methvin of Lafayette, announced the decision Thursday afternoon. In a statement, the two said that Rapides students "have been deprived of a talented and dedicated teacher for over 14 years. We are pleased with the very brave opinion of Judge Yeager and believe that it is in accordance with the evidence submitted and applicable law.”

Powell, who in 2003 published a book about her experience, said the episode had been "a long and extremely painful process for me and my family. I am pleased with the opinion and feel that justice has finally been done. The retaliatory actions of the Rapides Parish School Board are clearly and accurately explained in the court’s opinion, for which I am grateful. At the same time, I am saddened that any legal action was necessary.”

At the time, the district superintendent was Patsy Jenkins. None of the board members from that time currently are serving.